Our Admin

Liz (she/her/hers) is one of our two Group Programming Supervisors. Liz graduated from Salve Regina University with her Bachelor’s in Psychology and continued on to Bridgewater State University where she graduated with a Master’s in Clinical Psychology. In her five years working in the mental health field, Liz has had the opportunity to work with clients in a variety of settings, including inpatient, residential, and outpatient. She specializes in working with children and adolescents who struggle with anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem as well as helping them to increase their social emotional learning. Liz is known to integrate art or play into the therapeutic process to provide clients with opportunities to express themselves and their feelings in their own unique way. She strives to always build a safe space with clients where they feel they can learn, grow, and be unapologetically themselves. Liz also coordinates with families to help clients continue to achieve success with treatment outside of therapy. She enjoys being part of their journey and watching them accomplish their therapeutic goals. In her free time Liz can be found taking care of her growing collection of house plants and going for walks.  

Michaela (she/her/hers) is one of our two Group Programming Supervisors. Michaela graduated from Bridgewater State University with her Bachelor’s in Psychology and continued her schooling to receive her Master’s in Clinical Psychology. She's working towards earning her license in mental health counseling (LMHC). Michaela has worked with children and adolescents in a variety of settings and has a strong passion for suicide prevention work. Michaela specializes in working with children and adolescents facing anxiety, depression, ADHD, and difficulties with self-esteem, self-control, and self-regulation. Michaela also plans and facilitates therapeutic groups. Michaela utilizes an integrative therapeutic approach to adapt to the unique needs of each individual client. She incorporates art and play into therapy to meet children and adolescents where they are at. Michaela strives to create a safe, warm, empathetic, supportive, and non-judgmental therapeutic environment for her clients and their families. When not working, Michaela can be found spending precious time with her family, binge-watching a new TV show, browsing the aisles at Target, or reading. 

 Emma (she/her/hers) works with clients to process trauma, identify needs, work toward goals, and develop healthy coping skills while applying various therapeutic techniques and modalities. The approach Emma implements is based on each individualized client’s needs utilizing a wraparound perspective. Emma values the concepts of integration and holistic care in her work. Emma sees the therapeutic process as a true collaboration with her clients and other members of their treatment team. Emma graduated from Lesley University with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology in 2009. In 2011, she completed her Masters in Education at Lesley University. Emma later graduated from Arizona State University with a Masters in Social Work. Emma is a member of the National Association of Social Workers and a Professional Member of the Multi-Service Eating Disorders Association. Emma enjoys traveling, trips to the Cape, kayaking, spending time with her family, going to concerts, and Ohio State football. Emma lives with her family in Waltham, MA. 

Kari (rhymes with “fairy”) (they/them/theirs) is our Joanie's Place Supervisor. They are passionate about finding innovative ways to address the social determinants of health in our community. Their background is in health, education, and social work and they have a bachelor's degree in health (focused in health education and cultural competence in healthcare) and a master's degree in social work (specialized in health social work). Kari's hobbies include making bad puns, tinkering with craft supplies, and exploring the world through tiny adventures and big conversations. 

Cassandra (she/her/hers) is a recent MSW graduate with over 11 years experience working with children and adults in a mental health setting. She earned her bachelors in social work from Salem State University and her masters from Simmons University where she received a trauma focused certificate. Cassandra has worked with many diverse individuals who suffer from anxiety, depression, dysregulation, ADHD & trauma histories. She has previously worked in child protection settings, as a case manager, an in-home intensive case coordinator and therapeutic mentor. She is currently serving youth and adults in a telehealth capacity where she strives to create a safe space and enriching environment for all. Cassandra loves to utilize a variety of different treatment strategies including CBT, motivational interviewing, play therapy & person centered therapy. Cassandra can be found hiking nature trails, cooking up her favorite meal, or spending time with her fiancé, fur babies & newborn son, Griffin.

Molly (she/her/hers) is a student clinician nearing the completion of her Masters in Social Work from Simmons University. She earned her Bachelor's degree in Biomedical Science from the University of New Hampshire in 2014.  Molly found her clinical beginnings rather unconventionally in veterinary medicine. Realizing she would rather spend several hours on the floor with kids and their dogs talking through questions and exploring thoughts and feelings, she boxed up her stethoscope and scrubs and made her home in the field of social work.  Molly has worked with youth of diverse identities navigating complex, dynamic emotions and social and environmental transitions and contexts. To date, her work has centralized around anxiety, depression, and panic management; coping with grief and loss; as well as skill-building in realms of self-esteem and social-emotional learning. She is currently serving youth and families in a teletherapeutic capacity and has co-facilitated a handful of virtual youth support groups. Believing the client to be the expert in the room, she aspires to continually bring a collaborative, curious, empathic, strengths-based, evidence-informed, and ecologically-mindful approach to her practice.    Following attainment of her Master's degree, Molly plans to pursue certification in animal-assisted therapy. Her cats, Liam and Boots (who frequently accompany her in virtual appointments), are thrilled. Named after and often described as a Labrador, Molly can be found barefoot and laughing, spending as much time as she can with her beloved family. She enjoys nature adventures with her husband, zoomies and snuggles with Liam and Boots, watching "I love Lucy" reruns, strumming the ukulele, and dancing around her house. She will be expanding her collection of "happy books" until she can build a small house with them (or at least a fort).  She is delighted to meet you.    

Trott (he/him/his) is a seasoned professional who has been working with  a variety of populations over the past several years. A Fall River, Massachusetts native, Trott proudly served in the United States Air Force from 1998-2007. Returning to his hometown, Trott furthered his education because of his passion for serving others by earning his Masters in Social Work degree in 2016 from Boston University. He has worked with youth and families in residential facilities as well as outpatient clinics providing intensive home based behavioral support for children. Trott is the current director of the Fall River Veterans' Center. Trott specializes in behavior modification and management, developing self-regulation skills and group counseling strategies. He believes that our strengths lie in our desire to learn and make positive changes in our lives. Trott loves movies (ask him about his thoughts on Batman), art and sports - especially basketball. Go Celtics! 

Jade (she, her, hers) has recently completed her Masters in clinical psychology from Bridgewater State University. She has earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology and a minor in criminology from Framingham State University. Once diving into her official professional career, Jade has worked with youth in both individual and group settings. Jade’s background in Early Education and Care has helped to jump into working with youth as young as 5. With this background, Jade enjoys integrating the client’s interests into fun activities/play. Jade uses an eclectic approach to counseling believing in meeting every child where they are at. Jade also strives to provide the youth with a safe space in which they can feel safe and understood. During Jade’s free time,  she enjoys watching reality shows. If you were to ask her she finds them to be unofficial social experiments. Jade also loves curling up with a good book often sharing her ratings with friends

Megan (she/her/hers) graduated from UMass Amherst with a Bachelor’s in Psychology and upon graduation, dove right into the field. Throughout her professional career, she has predominantly worked with children in Foster Care– and upon seeing the high level of need for therapeutic services – she was inspired to go back to school for her Masters. Megan graduated from Boston University with her Master’s degree in Clinical Social Work, and with a passion for helping others, she has hit the ground running.

Megan is an eclectic therapist, who believes that best practice is meeting clients where they are at. By leading with authenticity and empathy, she strives to validate her clients’ lived experiences and as the experts of their own lives – with the goal of providing a safe space where clients feel seen and heard. She integrates her clients’ interests, art, and play, into the therapeutic process and values the clients’ input to make the process truly collaborative.

In her free time, Megan is always up for an adventure – whether it’s finding new foods to try, exploring new places (nature and otherwise), or staying in to play video games. 

Ashley (she, her, hers) is our resident grief and play therapist. She has over 10 years of experience working with children in various settings. A few of her past roles include preschool and pre-k teacher, Walt Disney World character performer, children’s event performer, substitute teacher, and owner of a children’s special event company. Her work at BLC has included STEAM social-emotional group work, restorative justice group facilitation, curriculum writing and activity planning, and individual therapy with children and teens. Ashley loves nature, craft stores, photography, and anything that glitters. She also loves DIY projects and incorporates art and creativity into nearly everything she does. She is often described as creative, empathetic, outgoing and fun. Her future career goals include becoming certified in art and play therapy, which are both often incorporated into her therapeutic work. When she is not working, she is likely spending time outside with her husband and her dog, watching ‘The Office’, planning themed movie nights with her nieces and nephews, or working on a new DIY art project.

 Alexis (she, her, hers) graduated from Bridgewater State University with her Master’s in Clinical Psychology. She specializes in working with youth and adolescents both in 1:1 sessions as well as in groups. Alexis has several years of experience with these populations both in school and clinical settings. She has worked in behavioral therapy, as a school adjustment counselor and as a crisis clinician. She enjoys integrating fun activities in her work with clients and uses them in creative ways to gauge the therapeutic process. She is sure to provide her clients with a safe space where they trust they will feel heard. Alexis identifies as an eclectic therapist who pulls strategies from different approaches depending on each of her clients’ needs. She uses empathy and validation to help her clients strive in their work together. Alexis’ goal is to meet those needs of her clients in whichever way it works best for them. Her favorite part about this work is helping young individuals see how therapy can be a true positive experience. Observing her clients develop and maintain new skills which support their mental health and well being is what drives her. In her free time Alexis enjoys being outdoors, seeing loved ones and binge watching the latest Netflix series.

 Jenn (she, her, hers) is a graduate of RIC's 2022 Advanced Standing MSW program. A devoted social worker to the community, she prides herself on advocating for people who understand The Struggle. Jenn is a strength-finder & is inspired by collaboratively cultivating confidence within discouraged and often-misunderstood populations. 

In her time at BLC, Jenn has worked with teens in both individual and group settings to explore what therapy can be all about. With her support, individual clients define their goals and work together to create a plan of action tailored to meet their needs. Some common goals include coping with life challenges, improving self esteem, making friends after Covid-19, decreasing anxiety, communicating needs, understanding mental health, and body positivity.

Her long term goals include creating opportunities for the community’s youth to rebuild themselves as individuals in a post-pandemic world. She recognizes the collective need for creating self-esteem, coping, understanding/practicing communication skills, and ultimately applying them mindfully in everyday situations.  Steadily committed to reducing the stigma of addiction, Jenn has been a member of SSTAR's Family Support group for 10+ years, volunteers with Project Reconnect to increase access to post-overdose supports, and roots for people in recovery to keep on keeping on. She has experience working in all stages of the change process of addiction, families impacted by incarceration, and loved ones coping with unexpected challenges. Her treasured work experience also includes supporting individuals with an array of abilities (with and alongside their caregivers) in a local non-profit agency for over 12 years. 

Her free time is spent searching for cheetah print at thrift stores, drawing hearts in chalk, advocating for prison reform, writing group curriculums, practicing glitter makeup looks, and trying not to be too cringe-y.

Lucy (she/her) has a passion for helping children, adolescents, and young adults navigate life’s challenges. She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in Rhode Island and Massachusetts. Her journey in social work began with a MSW degree from Boston University in 2023, where she honed her skills and developed a client-centered approach to therapy.
Her professional focus revolves around providing compassionate and personalized care to individuals in need. She strives to create a safe and supportive environment where clients can explore their emotions, develop coping strategies, and foster resilience. In addition to traditional therapy modalities, Lucy offers an approach to healing through pet therapy. Together with her certified therapy dog, Josie, she facilitates meaningful interactions that promote emotional well-being and connection. Whether it’s building confidence, reducing anxiety, or enhancing communication skills, Josie and Lucy work as a team to support clients on their therapeutic journey. 

 Josie (she/her) is an 8 year old Labradoodle with a heart full of compassion and a wagging tail ready to spread joy wherever she goes. As a certified pet therapy dog, through Windwalker Humane Coalition, Josie is dedicated to making a positive difference in the lives of those she meets.
In her role as a therapy dog, she brings comfort, companionship, and unconditional love to individuals of all ages. Whether it’s lending a listening ear, offering gentle nudges, or simply providing a furry presence, Josie strives to create a warm and welcoming atmosphere for therapy sessions. 

Dorca (she/her/hers) is a bilingual (Spanish) student clinician nearing the completion of her Master's in Social Work (with a concentration in Advanced Clinical Practice) from Syracuse University. Dorca has had a rather unique journey toward clinical practice. She graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting from York College in 2015. Finding the accounting field unfulfilling, Dorca joined the New York City Teaching Fellows. She worked as a dual-language first grade teacher in the Bronx, while working toward a Master’s in Education degree at Hunter College. She found her work with children and families extremely rewarding and eventually decided to make a career change that would allow her to have a broader range of opportunities to help support individuals, families, and communities. The field of social work provided the perfect pathway to follow her passion for helping and empowering those in need.

Dorca has worked with children, adolescents, and adults with diverse cultural backgrounds and identities in both individual and group settings. Her areas of focus include depression, anxiety, PTSD, stress-management, self-exploration, social-emotional learning, and self-esteem enhancement. Dorca utilizes a multi-dimensional, deeply empathetic, strengths-based approach, with a focus on evidence-based interventions, client collaboration, trauma-informed practice, and client empowerment.

During her free time, Dorca enjoys spending time with her family, binge-watching true crime documentaries, taking care of her plants, and traveling. 

Justin (he/him/his) started his career in human services as a direct care staff working with adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities in 2010. He quickly fell in love with supporting others in their growth towards independence and skill-building. He earned his B.A. in psychology from Umass Dartmouth to improve his skills and professional development. He graduate with his MSW from Boston University School of Social Work. Throughout his educational experience, Justin has worked with many different communities such as LGBTQIA+, neurodiverse, children, and adults. He prides himself in learning from everyone he has met. Justin has also helped develop and facilitate several group therapies such as social empowerment groups for Autistic Adults, SEL for children, and LGBTQIA+ empowerment groups. He believes therapy is not a one-size-fits-all and uses therapeutic approaches that will best support his clients.

 Tanisha (she/her/hers) graduated from Bridgewater State University with her Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology. She is currently enrolled in a secondary Master's program at the same University, focusing on special education. She has five years of experience working as both an individual clinician and as an educator for youth. As a therapist, she specializes in working with youth as well as individuals with ASD. 

Tanisha describes herself as an eclectic therapist who utilizes a variety of approaches to meet clients where they are at. She offers honesty, openness, empathy, validation and authenticity to all of the clients she works with. Tanisha ensures that clients are provided with a safe space that they can trust to feel heard. When she was younger, Tanisha did not have access to the resources she needed to feel supported. Now as a clinician, she feels proud to have the opportunity to support others in ways she needed but couldn't attain. 

Her favorite part of therapy is witnessing clients realize their power, recognize the autonomy they have in their lives and build confidence as a result.

Tanisha is a huge foodie, and loves going out to eat, cooking and baking. She enjoys watching shows on Netflix, tinkering away on Legos, singing and painting when the mood strikes. Tanisha's ADHD puts her all over the place so she is always willing to try something new!